Mimar Kemalettin was born in 1870 in İstanbul. After he was graduated from high school, he went to an engineering school, and became the assistant of a German architect at the school. After he worked four years, he went to Germany for the government to improve his skills. Before he went to Germany, he experienced the historical masterpieces, especially belonging to Mimar Sinan. He stayed four and half years in Germany and graduated from Charlattenburg Techincal School. When he returned to Turkey, he started to work as a lecturer and always pointed out to his students that how Turkish architecture degenerates if it is fell into the hands of western countries. Except from being an architect, he also continue to take projects. Bostancı and Bebek Mosques are the most important works in this period. After 1908 revolution , he became the Evkaf Nezareti inşaat ve tamirat administrator. He created his most important works especially in this phase. l. Vakıf Hanı, II. Vakıf Hanı, III. Vakıf Hanı and IV. Vakıf hanı were started to be built in this time period. Mimar Kemalettin, who is affected by neo- classicism ,tried to combine German architecture’s reliability and Ottoman Architecture’s delicacy and create a new style. Like Yahya Kemal, he tried to create ‘’ the new’’ by using the stong features of history. He mostly used Turkish dome, so his works keeps being modern without losing the features of our old architecture. His fame became world-wide after he restorated Mescid-I Aksa in Kudüs, then he was accepted to The United Kingdom Architecture institution as a member.
His most significant works:Ankara Palace in Ankara, 4 Vakıf han in Istanbul Bahçekapı, Şehitler Anıtı in Hürriyet Tepesi , Bostancı, Bebek, Bakırköy Mosques, Çamlıca Kız Lisesi building, Ayazma and Reşadiye school and tomb, Yeşilköy Mosque, Mahmut Şevket Paşa, Cevat Paşa, Ali Rıza Paşa tombs, Gazi Institution and Türk Ocağı building in Ankara.
